Engineering:M110 howitzer

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Short description: 203 mm Self-propelled artillery
8" M110 self-propelled howitzer
M110 203 mm self-propelled howitzer of the Royal Netherlands Army
TypeSelf-propelled artillery
Place of originUnited States
Service history
WarsVietnam War
Yom Kippur War
Iran–Iraq War
1982 Lebanon War
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)
Gulf War
2025 India–Pakistan border skirmishes[1]
Production history
ManufacturerGeneral Motors (transmission)[2]
Specifications
Mass31.2 short tons (28.3 t; 27.9 long tons)
Length35 ft 5 in (10.8 m)
Barrel length5.1 m (16 ft 9 in)[3] L/25
Width10 ft 2 in (3.1 m)
Height10 ft 2 in (3.1 m)
Crew13 (driver, 2 gunners, 2 loaders, (8 support crew–other vehicle))
Calibre203 mm (8.0 in)
Rate of fireRapid: 3 per two minutes
Regular: 1 round every two minutes
Effective firing range16.8–25 km (10.4–15.5 mi)
RAP 30 km (19 mi)
Armour.51 in (13 mm)
Main
armament
8 in (203 mm) M201A1 howitzer
Secondary
armament
none
EngineDetroit Diesel 8V71T, 8-cylinder, 2-stroke, turbocharged diesel
405 hp (302 kW)
SuspensionTorsion bar
Speed30 mph (54.7 km/h)

The 8-inch (203 mm) M110 self-propelled howitzer is an American self-propelled artillery system consisting of an M115 203 mm howitzer installed on a purpose-built chassis. Before its retirement from US service, it was the largest available self-propelled howitzer in the United States Army's inventory; it continues in service with the armed forces of other countries, to which it was exported. Missions include general support, counter-battery fire, and suppression of enemy air defense systems.

Description

According to the operator's manual, the M110's typical rate of fire was three rounds per two minutes when operated at maximum speed, and one round per two minutes with sustained fire. The M110 featured a hydraulically operated rammer to automatically chamber the 200 lb (91 kg)+ projectile. These rammers were prone to breakdown and generally slowed operation of the gun because the rammers required crews to completely lower the massive barrel before using it. Well trained and motivated crews could achieve two to four rounds per minute for short periods by using the manual rammer, essentially a heavy steel pole with a hard rubber pad on one end. Using the manual rammer was physically demanding, but crews were not required to lower the barrels as much as with the hydraulic rammer.

The M110's range varied from 10.4 mi (16.8 km) to approximately 16 mi (25 km) when firing standard projectiles, and up to 19 mi (30 km) when firing rocket-assisted projectiles.[4]

History

File:Weapons of the Field Artillery (1966).webm The M110 howitzer first entered service with the U.S. Army in 1963 and was used in the Vietnam War by the United States Army. Later versions were used in the Gulf War - Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm by Tango Battery 5th Battalion 11th Marines, and the British Army's 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery.[5]

In 1977 the upgraded M110A1 entered service, featuring a longer M201 series barrel which gave it an increased range. The final version, the M110A2, added a double muzzle brake. The M110A2s were made from refitted M110s or M107 175 mm self-propelled guns.[6] The 2nd Battalion 18th Field Artillery (U.S. Army), which inactivated in 1994 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the 5th Battalion 18th Field Artillery served in Desert Storm with the M110A2, as did the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade (Arkansas Army National Guard) and 1st Battalion 181st Field Artillery (Tennessee Army National Guard). Most of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps relied on M109 series 155-millimeter howitzer systems during this conflict, sending remaining M110s to reserve or National Guard units. These units then took possession of M109s as they returned from combat operations. M110s were still in service with the 3rd Battalion 92nd Field Artillery (US Army Reserve) and running fire missions at Camp Atterbury as late as the summer of 1994.[7]

The howitzer has been retired from U.S. Army service, replaced by the M270 multiple launch rocket system.

Dutch artillerymen with their M110 in firing position, 1972



In early October 2025, it was reported that Greece is considering selling at least 60 M110A2 guns and 150,000 high-explosive (HE) and cluster shells to Ukraine via the Czech Republic for about 199.4 million euros; According to the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, these howitzers no longer meets the Armed Forces needs.[8]

Projectiles

A 203 millimetre W33 nuclear artillery shell on display
  • M14 dummy
  • M106 HE
  • M650 HE rocket assist projectile (RAP)
  • M509 ICM
  • M404 ICM anti-personnel (airburst)
  • M426 agent GB Sarin
  • M422A1 Artillery Fired Atomic Projectile[9]
  • M424 High Altitude Spotting Round for the M422 projectile
  • XM753 Atomic RA (rocket assisted)[10]

Operators

Map with M110 operators in blue and former operators in red
U.S. Army M110A2 howitzers in a staging area prior to transport, Port of Antwerp, 1984

Current

  •  Bahrain: Royal Bahraini Army 13 M110A2 from Netherlands delivered in 1994,[11] 25 M110A2 from US delivered in 1996.[12]
  •  Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard 8 M110A2[13]
  •  Greece: Hellenic Army 145 M110A2.
  •  Egypt: Egyptian Army Received 144 M110A2 as aid in 1996.[14]
  •  Iran: Iran Army 30 M110.
  •  Jordan: Jordanian Armed Forces 120 M110A2.
  •  Morocco: Moroccan Army 60 M110A2.
  •  Pakistan: Pakistan Army 140 in service as of 2021.
  •  Taiwan: Republic of China Army 70 M110A2 as of 2023[15]: 291 [16]: 1021 
  •  Turkey: Turkish Army currently phasing out 219 as M110A2 in favor of T-155 Fırtına

Potential

  •  Ukraine: As of October 2025, Greece is reportedly considering selling at least 60 M110A2, which then would be transferred via the Czech Republic[8]

Former

  •  Belgium: Belgian Army 11 M110A2 between 1972 and 1993 used by the 20th Artillery Regiment (Belgian Forces in Germany).
  •  Germany: German Army M110A2 until 1993.
  •  Israel: Israeli Army 36 M110, retired in 1990s.
  •  Italy: Italian Army used M110A2s, phased out by 1998.
  •  Japan: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 91 M110A2. As of 2023, approximately 10 M110A2s were active, owned by 104th Artillery Battalion of 4th Artillery Group (Mechanized) in Hokkaido.[17] They were retired in March 2024 and the battalion was disbanded.[18]
  •  South Korea: Republic of Korea Army Operated M110 since 1961. Retired in the late 2000s after being replaced by K9 Thunder.[19]
  •  South Vietnam: Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
  •  Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Army M110A1 and M110A2, replaced by the M109 in the 1990s
  • Template:SPN: Spanish Army as 64 M110A2, deployed in divisional fire support regiments until 2009.
  •  United Kingdom: British Army as M110A2 firing high explosive and nuclear shells only. (The FV433 Abbot SPG, the M109A2, and the M110A1 were replaced by the AS-90 in the early-mid-1990s.) Used in Operation Granby/Gulf War.[7]
  •  United States: Used by United States Army and United States Marine Corps, M110A2s retired in 1994.

See also

  • List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
  • 2S7 Pion – Soviet L/55.3 203 mm self-propelled cannon
  • 2S4 Tyulpan – Soviet 240 mm self-propelled mortar
  • List of crew-served weapons of the US Armed Forces
  • M55 – 203 mm self-propelled gun, predecessor to the M110
  • M107 – a 175 mm self-propelled gun on the same chassis
  • Sholef – Israeli 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage – a 240 mm howitzer M1 fitted on a M26 Pershing chassis

References

  1. ↑ "Reports of heavy fire at Leepa Valley between the Indian and Pakistani militaries, per local reports. Pakistan is sending hardware to the region, including the M110 self-propelled artillery system Leepa Valley" (in en). https://kashmir.liveuamap.com/en/2025/26-april-19-reports-of-heavy-fire-at-leepa-valley-between. 
  2. ↑ Defense Industry Bulletin, April 1968, p. 47.
  3. ↑ Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 141. ISBN 0-02-080600-0. OCLC 911907988. 
  4. ↑ "M110 - 203-mm self-propelled howitzer". http://www.military-today.com/artillery/m110.htm. 
  5. ↑ 32 Regiment RA in action - Gulf War 1991
  6. ↑ (Hunnicutt)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 UK M110 Artillery in action Gulf War 1991
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cherevko, Vlad (4 October 2025). "Greece plans to send 60 M110A2 howitzers and 203mm shells to Ukraine" (in en). Ukrainska Pravda. Ef.Syn. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/10/04/8001229/. 
  9. ↑ Thomas B Cochran; William M Arkin; Milton M Hoenig (1984). Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume I: US Nuclear Forces and Capabilities (Report). Natural Resources Defense Council. p. 47. https://fas.org/nuke/cochran/nuc_84000001b_01.pdf. Retrieved 2021-06-22. 
  10. ↑ Henry E Hudgins (January 1977). Aerodynamics, Dimensions, Inertial Properties and Performance of Artillery Projectiles (Report). Picatinny Arsenal. p. 4. https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/b022223.pdf. Retrieved 2021-12-24. 
  11. ↑ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. "Transfers and licensed production of major conventional weapons". http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. 
  12. ↑ Defense Security Cooperation Agency. "Excess Defense Articles". http://www.dsca.mil/programs/eda/search.asp. 
  13. ↑ "Εξοπλισμός Εθνικής Φρουράς (Κύπρος)". https://www.ellinikos-stratos.com/stratos/cyprus. 
  14. ↑ "Deals in the Works". Federation of American Scientists. FAS. https://fas.org/asmp/library/asm/asm33table2.html. 
  15. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2023). The Military Balance 2023. Routledge, Chapman & Hall. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=U86kzwEACAAJ. Retrieved 19 August 2023. 
  16. ↑ Foss, Christopher F. (2005). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005–2006. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2686-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=e8_HAAAACAAJ. Retrieved 19 August 2023. 
  17. ↑ Yusuke, Tsuge. "陸自最大サイズの巨砲「203mm自走りゅう弾砲」まもなく退役 進む"火砲リストラ" 最後の部隊は". Vehicle news. https://trafficnews.jp/post/125248/2. 
  18. ↑ "昭和の名戦車「74式戦車」ついに完全引退！ 2024年3月をもって本州から戦車部隊が消滅【自衛隊新戦力図鑑】". Motor-Fan CAR. https://motor-fan.jp/mf/article/214490/. 
  19. ↑ Bak, Dongchan (March 2021) (in ko). Korean War : Weapons of the United Nations. Republic of Korea: Ministry of Defense Institute for Military History. pp. 108–10. ISBN 979-11-5598-079-8. http://medcmd.mil.kr/user/imhc/upload/pblictn/PBLICTNEBOOK_202105270240172800.pdf. 
  • TM 9-2350-304-10 dated October 1979



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